Hoover Set to Host Miami-Central in ESPN High School Kickoff

Hoover, AL : Florida prep powerhouse Miami-Central has agreed to open 2014, on national television, at Hoover’s Buccaneer Stadium.

The clash will pit the 2013 6A champion from each state and will likely play the role of an early eliminator for the eventual 2014 nation championship.  Both squads will enter the contest ranked in the top 10 nationally.

According to former Hoover Athletic Director, Myra Miles, the Bucs have been eyeing this type of  marquee match-up to raise the programs national visibility.

“We have been looking to do an event like this at Hoover for a long time with a top school from Miami, Florida, California or Texas and this year it worked out.”

The Bucs enter the showdown with what many believe to be one of  Head Coach Josh Niblett’s strongest squads since taking over the progam in 2008.  Riding a 30 game winning streak, Hoover appears to hold a slight edge in the returning starter department; lead on offense by running back Bradrick Shaw and wide reciever Justin Johnson.  On the flipside the Central Rockets graduated two of the most highly touted running backs in the nation in Dalvin Cook and Joe Yearby. The Rockets will be looking to reload in 2014, replacing Cook, Yearby, replace nearly an entire offense with all five offensive lineman leaving, two running backs, and its quarterback

Entering his second year at Miami-Central, head coach Roland Smith will be looking to retool his entire Rockets offense.  The departure of Cook and Yearby, in addition to the loose of his starting quarterback and all five offensive linemen will likely prove to be a daunting task before a national ESPN audience.

The game will be nationally televised by ESPN, live from Buccaneer Stadium on the campus of Hoover High, Saturday August 23rd at 11:30 AM.